gilchrist



Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,383

. J. M. GILCHRIST ELECTRICALLY ILLUMINATED S IGN Filed Oct. 26, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 6, 1927.

J. M. GILCHRIST ELECTRICALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN "Filed Oct. 26. 1923 2 sheets sheet 2 izz/@2257" vanes/f C/ Patented Dec. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES JAMES M. GILCHRIST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FEDERAL ELECTRIC COM- PATENT OFFICE.

PANY, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRICALIaY-ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Application filed October 26, 1923.

This invention relates to improvements in electrically illuminated signs and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One of the objects of the present invention is to so construct a sign of the kind above mentioned, that the letter plates may be quickly and easily removed from their position on the sign body for the purpose intended, but are still connected to the sign body in such .manner as to be supported thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible connecting means between the sign body or frame and the individual letter plate, which means is normally arranged within the sign body, but will act to hold the sign letter in a position suspended below the sign body, after said sign letter plate has been removed.

These objects of the invention together with others, as well as the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of an electrically illuminated sign embodying my invention, a part of the sign body being shown as broken away to more clearly illustrate the interior construction thereof.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the sign, on an enlarged scale, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 2-2 of F ig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the bottom part of the sign as shown in Fig. 2, with one of the letter plates removed from its position on the sign body and hanging in a suspended position below the sign body.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view through the sign as indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view in rear elevation of one of the letter plates embodied in the sign shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a View in front elevation of a sign letter plate wherein the stencil plate embodies a nonintegral part within the outline of the letter or character strokes.

Fig. 7 is a View in rear elevation of the sign letter plate shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view as taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring now in detail to that embodisign.

Serial No. 670,834.

ment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the accompanying drawings :10 indicates the sign which includes a rectangular open frame 11 and a plurality of sign letter plates 12, 12 arranged on both sides of the frame to provide a double face The open frame 11 as shown, is of a length greater than its height and comprises top and bottom members 13 and 1 1 and end members 15 and 16 respectively, all made of channel bars of a width greater than their depth. Each channel frame member includes a web 17 and side flanges 18, 18 which are directed outwardly of the frame, each flange terminating in a lateral bead l8 (see Figs. 2 and 4), the purpose of which will appear later.

The frame is adapted to be supported in a position extending at a right angle to a building wall in any suitable manner and in Fig. 1 of the drawings I have illustrated the following construction. 19, 19 indicates straight arms or bars which are secured at one end to the webs of the top and bottom frame members 13 and 14:, near the inner end member 15. The other ends of said arms are securely attached to angle clips 20, 20 which in turn are anchored in any suitable manner to a building wall 21. An eye 22 is secured to the front or outer end of the top member 13 of the frame 11. To said eye is attached one end of a holding chain 23 which includes a turnbuckle 24. The other end of said chain is secured to the building wall 21 in any suitable manner, at a point located a suitable distance above the top angle clip 20. To the bottom frame member 14 at a point below the eye 22 is fastened a transverse bar 25 (see Fig. 1) the ends of which project beyond the planes of the sides of the frame. Guy chains 26 are secured at one end to said projecting ends of the bar 25 and at their other ends to the building wall at points spaced at equal distances from, but preferably in the plane of, the bottom angle clip 20. In this manner the sign is rigidly held in position and against swinging under wind pressure.

Each letter plate 12 as shown herein, consists of. a rectangular sheet metal stencil plate 27 (see Figs. 2 and 5). A partof each stencil plate within its outline, is offset outwardly to form an embossed rectangular field 28 which is connected to the top and bottom and side marginal parts of the stencil i 60 through the holes 33..therein.

plate by angular-1y inclined Wall parts 28 In each stencil plate field is an opening Which defines the sign letter, character or symbol to be depicted. Associated with each 5 stencil plate is 'atranslucent backing plate- 30, preferably made of opal or milk White glass. Said plate is of an area substantially corresponding to that of the embossed field 28 and is held in position against the rear surface of said field by clip stripsBl, 31 secured to the inclined Wall parts 28, are by bolts'32, "Fig, The stencil plates 'arepainted or otherwise finished in a color Which'contrasts with the glass bachlfiiing plate andsuch parts of said backing plcites as are back of the letter openings will "bldly stand forth. Preferably, but not: "necessarily, said glass backingplate parts H are convex ed or raised as at to extend "ZO thiOughsaid letter opening 29 and project in. relief beyond the front face of the embossedjfield 28. v

The letterplat'es 12 are mounted in'position upon the frame 11, With each alternate '25 letter plate on one side of the frame removably secured thereto and'with the intermediate letter plates fixed thereto.-the removjable'letter plates 'on'one side of the sign being disposed opposite to the lixed letter fplat'esbn the other side of the sign. and

with the side'margin of one stencil plate overlapping the side marginof the adjacei'it stencil plate, as shown. in 1. Should it be so desired, all of the letter plates on both sides'of the sign body may be made remo'vable. a p

K lnthe topan d bottom finarginal parts of peach stencil plate "are provided suitably spaced openin'gs83 (see Fig. 5) which are 4'0 so disposed'as to register with similar holes 34 (seeFigelin the flanges 18 of the top and bottom frame members 13 and let. The letter plates heretofore referred to as the intermediate?or fixed letter plates are se- .cured'to the flanges 18 by screws or bolts 35iwhich are inserted through the holes of'the stencil plate and are threaded into the holes 3 l inthe flanges 18. A Washer 36, preferablypf leather, is inserted between the head of'the screws or bolts 85 and the top and bottom marginal parts of the stencil plate, The letter plates heretofore referred to as the alternate or removable letter plat es are secured to the flanges 18 by'means ofscrews 37 which extend through and are securedin the flanges 18 by solder. Coacting thumb nuts 38 are threaded upon the ends of said screws after the letter plate has been placed in positionwith the screws extending lVa'shers 39, also preferably of leather, are inserted between the top and bottoi'n marginal parts ofthe stencil plate, and the thumb nuts 38. The reinovablefletter plates 12 are also each connected to the frame of the sign by member l l of the sign frame in anyconven ient manner and is fixed at its other end to the inner surface of one side margin of the letter plate 12 between its top and bottom ends in a similar manner. To remove one A ofsaid sign letterplates, it is only necessary to unscrew and IQIDOYQ the thumb nuts 38 and Washers 39from thez'isso'ciated screws 37 and then lift'the letter plate off said. bolts, after which the flexible inen'iber or chain 410 will hold said letter platein a suspended, position beneath the sign, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the letter plate cannot be accidentally dropped anddamaged during the removalthereof, and there is no danger of injury to people Walking beneath t-he sign. Furtherrnorqthe removed letter platesare suspended in a position out of theWa y of the one making lamp renewals or repairs upon the inside of the sign body.

When the letter plates are in position on the sign body. the lateral beads 18 of the sign frame members 13 and 14 project beyond the vertical plane of the top and bottom murginalparts of the stencil plate 27 and close oli' any leakage of lightalong said I margins said stencil plates when thesign is illuminated. Said beads also'act to prevent the entrance of excessive moisture into the interior of the sign body.

In the case of some letters such as in the letters 0, P, Q, and the like. it is necessary to use nonintegral parts of the stencil plate to assist in defining or blocking out the parts witl'iin thestroltes of the letter. Heretofore, such nonint'egral parts Were only secured in position by bolting}; the same to the part of the translucent backing plate 30, which it covered. Under such conditions, should, a part of the translucent backing plate Within the letter strokes become broken, it was apt to fall fromthesign to thepossible injury of people passing below.

I In Figs, 6,7 and 8 l have illustrated a construction eliminating the possibility of such falling in case of breakage of the" backing plate. In Fig. 6, 41 indicates the nonintegral part of the embossed field 98 of the stencil plate which blocks out tlie interior of the continuous stroke ofthe letter O. This non-integral part is secured to top and bottom rounded pai' ts'of said letter are described. Nuts 43 are threaded upon the bolts fronrthe back faceof the backing plate. A Wire 44 is Woundabout and coin nects said nuts together, and one end of said Wire is connected to the stencil plateQ'Z by ineansof one of the bolts 32 securingthe top clips 31 in place. In this way the said non-integral part of the embossed panel is connected to the stencil plate so as to prevent it from falling out of place, even should the backing plate become broken.

The sign is illuminated from within by means of electric lamps 45 which are threaded into the usual sockets carried by angle brackets 46 secured to the top and bottom members 13 and 14 of the sign frame. Preferably, said lamps are vertically arranged and are spaced suitable horizontal distances apart for an equal distribution of light, said spacing of course, being dependent upon the size of the letter plate used in the sign.

In connection with the sign structures thus far described, I have illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, an auxiliary sign structure which is supported beneath the sign proper and upon which are depicted suitable indicia, preferably, but not necessarily, relating to the matter depicted by the letters of the main sign body.

To the inner face of the web 17 of the bottom member 14 of the sign body, is secured a flat bar 47 of suitable dimensions. 48, 2L9 indicate horizontally disposed top and bottom elongated plates, each of which is formed at its margins to provide grooves 50, with the grooves in one plate facing the grooves in the other plate. In said grooves are arranged the top and bottom edges of vertically disposed panels 51 which are made of any suitable material and bear the desired indicia. Bolts 52 pass through suitably disposed holes in said plates 48 and 49 and are threaded through the bottom member 14 of the sign frame into the bar 47 which has threaded holes to receive the same. Spacing sleeves 53 surround those parts'of the bolts 52 between the top plate 49 and the frame member 14 to hold the secondary sign body in the desired spaced relation with reference to the main sign body. As the bars 47 are furnished with each main structure, the auxiliary sign structure may be attached thereto, either at the time the main sign body is assembled, or it may be attached thereto, after the main sign body has been erected in place.

The many advantages of the construction above set forth will be apparent to those familiar with the art, and while in describing the invention, I have referred to many details in form and arrangement of the parts, -I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

'1. In a sign structure, the combination of means providing a sign body, a sign letter plate removably secured to the sign body, and flexible means connecting the sign body and letter plate for supporting the letter plate in depending relation below the sign body, after the letter plate has been removed therefrom.

2. In a sign structure, the combination of means providing a sign body, a sign letter plate removably secured to the sign body, and a chain connecting the sign body and letter plate for supporting the letter plate in depending relation below the sign body after the letter plate has been removed therefrom.

3. In a sign structure, the combination of means providing a sign body, a sign letter plate removably secured to the sign body, said letter plate comprising a metallic stencil plate and a glass backing plate, and flexible means connecting the metallic stencil plate and the sign body for supporting the letter plate in depending relation below the sign body. after the letter plate has been removed therefrom.

4. In a sign structure, the combination of an open rectangular frame having vertically disposed flanges at each side thereof, a plurality of sign letter plates, each comprising a rectangular stencil plate and a glass backing plate carried thereby, said letter plates being arranged side by side and closing the opening in said rectangular frame, means for securing said letter plates to the flanges of said frame, the securing devices for the alternate letter plates being capable of detachment so that the letter plates are removable-from the sign body, and flexible means for each removable letter plate, connecting said letter plate to the sign body adapted for supporting the letter plate in depending relation below the sign body after the letter plate has been removed therefrom.

5. In combination with an illuminated sign body including a rectangular sign body having top, bottom and end members, an auxiliary sign body comprising top and bot tom plates, having opposed grooves in the side margins thereof, arranged in pairs, a sign panel engaged at its top and bottom edges in each pair of grooves, bolts passing through said top and bottom plates and threaded into the bottom member of the first mentioned sign body, and spacing sleeves surrounding said bolts between said bottom frame members and said top plate of the auxiliary sign body.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I afiix my signature this 23rd day of October, 1923.

J AMES M. GILGHRIST. 

